United Nations Security Council 

About:

Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan has been described as a watershed moment and rightly so. The hostile takeover is not just going to affect the country but also the continent and the globe in general.

In contemporary times, the scope or rather the consequences of terrorism are all-pervasive though some countries face it more than others. This is a vulnerable moment for countries in Asia and particularly for India. The takeover has led countries to speculate whether terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda (AQ) and Islamic State (IS) can reach the acme of terror. This is a key opportunity for the south Asian branch of AQ along with the network in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to re-emerge.

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Although most countries have yet to recognize the Taliban government, the responses of certain countries have been positive. China and Russia continue to have their embassies in the country, currently being “protected” by the Taliban. Many other countries have yet to recognize the country such as India and the US. The key obstacle for the Taliban towards their recognition by the global community remains their affiliations with individuals whose track records are of significant concern. For example, the interim government is being led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on the UN blacklist. Another figure, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is wanted by the FBI.

 

Despite this, it cannot be forgotten that the Taliban does control Afghanistan, there is no other government that could fit in its shoes. The former government does not even have a constitutional claim to the country and its military rebellion in the Panjshir Valley has been suppressed. Under all these circumstances, without the Taliban in Afghanistan, there will virtually be a power vacuum in the country.

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Thus, under the given circumstance, it is imperative for us to ask a certain number of questions:

 

·   Will there be a way for the international community to curb terrorism and regional networks like the ‘AQIS’?

·   Will all countries and the global community be able to come to a consensus regarding the status of the Taliban?

·   Can countries like India and the US be able to protect their mainland from the looming crisis?

·   Will countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan get a spurt in their regional rebellions and terrorism?

·   Will countries be able to deal diplomatically with the Taliban, and if so, what will be the pre-conditions to the engagement?

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